Dump truck body



C. W. MEININKGER DUMP TRUCK BODY Filed Feb. s, i957 2 sheets-Sheet- 1 INVENTOR. ME//v/NGLR..

E7 L L n N L@ \N\\ n, m lm.. m h\\ @KRL v ATTORNEY.

Dec. 20, 1938. x c. w. ME|N|NGER 2,140,590

DUMP TRUCK BODY Y Filed Feb. e, 193'?l 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR CARL W. ME/NINGER.

ATTORNEY.

Gil

Paenfed ha.l zo, 193s PATENT .oFFlcE DUMP TRUCK BODY Carl W.

or to Al Meininger, New Kensington, Pa., alignuminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 8, 1937, Serial No. 124,605

20h-Imi.

This invention relates to dump bodies for motor trucks and the like, and speciilcally to bodies that are fabricated from sheet metal.

It has been the desire lof builders and users of trucks to keep to a minimum the weight of these units, commensurate, of course, with serviceability, so that the so-called pay load" may be increased. The primary object of this invention is the provision of a truck body in which the commonly used longitudinal -and transverse beams are eliminated and in which the floor will be free to flex under impact, thereby appreciably absorbing the force of impact itselfbefore the same is transmitted tothe vehicle springs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a truck body in which the load forces are carried to vertical members by the body itself, and from the vertical members to the chassis without employing transverse members which in contact with the body. l

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from the specification when readin connection with the drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 depicts a side view of a. conventional 4 the shell of which may be made of a single sheetV of 'metal or which may beta built-up structure, in that it will have a bottom which is riveted or otherwise secured to vertical side members.- In the. drawings, the body isshown as having a relatively at bottom. However, the invention covers either single or built-up sheet bodies in which the bottoms are made with a pre-formed curvature, for use with static loads where there is'less likelihood of having to absorb forces of substantial impact other than those occasioned in the normal use of the vehicle.

vThe body is riveted to and reinforced by members 2 and 3, which are preferably structural shapes, such as heavy angles, formed to flt the contour of the body shell. A front end plate .l is riveted to member 2, and one or more vertical members 5 are secured to said end plate. These vertical members are preferably of I-beam con--v struction and extend appreciably below the bottom of the truck body. A plate 6 is joined to the bottom of each verticalmember 5. A force absorbing block 'I is secured on -each side ofthe chassis by U-bolts or other'suitable means, and

serves to distribute the various forces transmitted thereto by the plates 8. 'I'he endplate 4, as shown, extends upwardly and is bent forward to provide a hood for protection of the truck cab. Along the length of the body, vertical members 8 are located. These members vare preferably channels and are riveted to the body shell. In this connection, it should be noted that the plates forming the sides of the body are riveted to members 8, from a point appreciably above the curved l0 portion of the body between the sidesland the bot- I tom. The members 8 are gusseted to cross members 9, as shown in Fig. 2, the cross members 9, however, being an appreciable distance below the bottom ofthe truck body, so that the bottom does not rest upon them. Intermediate each pair of verticals 8 and extending across the width of the truck body are the above mentioned cross members 9, one of these members with its tie bar 9 providing a bearing surface for the hoist I0, the other member with its tie bar 9" providing a bearing' surface for the member I I, about which the bodypivots as it is raised. The standards of member l I are secured to the chassis frame l2. Cap-shaped members I", jas best shown in Fig. 3, extend along both top lengthwise edges j of the body. These members fit overand are riveted to the body sides and vertical members 8, thereby further unitarily joining the sides of. the body to their verticals. It will thus be apparent that this construction leaves the body suspended between the verticals 8 and absolutely free 'of any contact with the ordinary 1ongitudinal and transverse beams which are found in most truck body constructions today. It will -also be apparent that should the truck body be subjected to a force such as one of impact, the force will be partially absorbed by the flexibility-oi the bottom at the moment of impact, and that which rem'ains will be transmitted to the chassis frame only through the vertical members 5 and through the rear pair of vertical members 8 and the transverse member 9 gusseted thereto which is not in contact with'the body bottom.

No tail gate has been shown in thedrawings, butit is obvious that any suitable type of tail gate may be used.

While the invention has been described herevinabove with reference to certain embodiments thereof which are now preferred, it will be understood that it may be otherwise embodied without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

l. Atruckbodycomprisingabottomandside walls of sheet metal, said bottom being curved upwardly at the side extremities thereof to form vertical side walls', said walls being securedl throughout a. substantial portion of their depths to chassis supported vertical members whereby load forces on the body are transmitted to the` truck chassis entirely by 'said vertical members.

2. In combination with a truck chassds, a. body 

